The number 70
The nations, Israel's eldership, the appointed span
Seventy stands where God numbers a whole. The Table of Nations lists seventy peoples (Genesis 10); Jacob's house comes into Egypt seventy souls (Exodus 1:5; Deuteronomy 10:22 — 'thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons'); seventy elders ascend with Moses and eat before God (Exodus 24:1, 9) and receive of the Spirit (Numbers 11:16-25). Judah's exile is fixed at seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10; Daniel 9:2; 2 Chronicles 36:21); a man's days are 'threescore years and ten' (Psalm 90:10). Jesus sends 'seventy others' ahead of him (Luke 10:1) — the mission wearing the nations' number — and sets forgiveness at 'seventy times seven' (Matthew 18:22).
First occurrence
Lamech's boast: 'If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold' — the vengeance Jesus inverts into forgiveness.
The pattern in Scripture
- Seventy nations in Genesis 10; seventy sent in Luke 10
- Seventy souls into Egypt (Exod 1:5; Deut 10:22)
- Seventy elders before God (Exod 24:1; Num 11:16-25)
- Seventy years of exile, prophesied and counted (Jer 25:11; Dan 9:2)
- Seventy weeks decreed (Dan 9:24)
Key verses
And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: and Joseph was in Egypt already.
For thus saith Jehovah, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you.
Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years.
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.